Prepping the garden for early-season
planting
A
s the spring gardening season
approaches, gardeners are preparing
for early-season planting and harvesting.
Benefits of early-season planting
seeded in the bed and later transplanted
into the garden. To maximize light and
plant growth, both hotbeds and cold
frames should be oriented in an eastwest direction.
Many popular vegetables are coolOnce in the garden
season plants, meaning that the best
Raised beds warm the soil significantly,
yield and quality is produced in cooler
allowing the plants to grow rapidly
weather. Early planting allows for early
in the spring. Raised beds should be
harvest, which provides fresh vegetables
approximately 10- to 12-inches tall and
over a longer period of time. Also, if
3- to 4-feet wide. Leaf lettuce, carrots,
you are selling vegetables at a farmers
beets, radishes,
market, prices are
and turnips can
typically higher
be seeded in rows
for early-season
4- to 6-inches
produce. Finally,
apart or simply
the presence
broadcast-seeded
of vegetable
over the bed and
pests becomes
watered in with
more prevalent
a watering can
in warmer
or sprinkler hose.
weather and
Head lettuce, bok
Transplants are an effective way to begin
with vegetables
early-season planting of cool-season
choy, Swiss chard,
planted later in the
broccoli, and
gardening season. leafy vegetables.
cauliflower can be grown on dark colored
Try transplants
mulches, such as black plastic or paper
mulch, which warms the soil. Avoid
Starting the season with a healthy
placing straw or hay on the dark mulch,
transplant is an effective way to establish
because it can shade the mulch and cool
cool-season leafy vegetables, such as head
the soil, which will delay transplant
lettuce, bok choy, Swiss chard, cabbage,
establishment. To trap heat during the
kale, broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower.
day, place gallon jugs filled with water
Even though all of these vegetables can
around the plants. Drape row covers
be seeded in the garden, transplants
(spunbonded fabrics) over the crops
accelerate growth and harvest for
for frost and freeze protection. A cloche,
most crops.
or hot cap, can be placed over the tender
Indoor transplant growing options
transplant to warm the air and soil
While many of these transplants can be
around the plant.
grown indoors near a well-lit window, a
For more tips
cold frame (miniature solar greenhouse
Consult the WVU Extension Service
used to acclimate plants to cooler
Garden Calendar to find more
temperatures) can be used to successfully
information about planting dates
start vegetable plants. A hotbed can also
for vegetables in your region.
be constructed, filed with composting
material, and topped with a layer of
By Lewis W. Jett, Commercial Horticulture
topsoil or peat moss. Vegetables can be
Specialist, WVU Extension Service
iv / Winter 2014
WVU Update
The West Virginia University
Extension Service and the WVU